tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post4198523407157024899..comments2024-03-29T03:36:27.656-04:00Comments on Murder is Everywhere: Where's the famous Gallic shrug when you need it?Ovidia Yuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749549092493567689noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-69873147151174597352010-10-22T03:20:51.549-04:002010-10-22T03:20:51.549-04:00I think it's great they're marching in Fra...I think it's great they're marching in France, and elsewhere in Europe.<br /><br />Wish it would influence people in the U.S. There are 30 million unemployed and underemployed, many with involuntary part-time jobs, and many who've given up looking for work.<br /><br />A lot of these people would have regarded themselves as middle-class, especially those middle-aged or older who now cannot get hired or are taking jobs are far under their qualifications and prior salary. It is very sad.<br /><br />There are good people here, not only right-wingers who watch Fox. A lot of people were in D.C. on Oct. 2 who want jobs' programs and a lot of people do watch MSNBC--the FOX alternative for people who actually think critically. They just don't get the media coverage.<br /><br />Wages are being cut here and health benefits, too. A bit of French activism or even activism which has happened in the U.S.--1930s, 1960s, etc. --would help matters.<br /><br />Now the good old rightwing has its eyes on Social Security and Medicare. If those benefits--which people paid into all their working lives--are cut, a lot of the "middle-class" won't be "middle-class" any more.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-78819424404327249042010-10-20T21:31:52.979-04:002010-10-20T21:31:52.979-04:00Man, 3.5 million. I have to say it's good to ...Man, 3.5 million. I have to say it's good to see people giving a voice but I think I'll retire in Canada instead of France.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11852781755023846378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-21906770338814367312010-10-19T18:09:17.995-04:002010-10-19T18:09:17.995-04:00Looks like you and Stan had a laugh!
Funny you sh...Looks like you and Stan had a laugh!<br /><br />Funny you should mention Mrs Thatch - the old dear had her 85th birthday this week but was too ill to attend. This news failed to elicit sympathy from a lot of people. Funny that...<br /><br />In a future post, maybe a posthumopus one (hers not mine...I hope) I'll probably speak of of Mrs T's legacy. She chose to meet and crush the unions. It left a bitterness and rancour that still lingers. I doubt Sarkozy would be so brave/foolish. She employed various nefarious means too - agent provocateurs, covert ops, the help of the press - which, if Mr Sarkozy was to use, would lead to full blown civil war in FRance I'm sure.<br /><br />Over the channel in the UK, our unions neutered, we think the French are a bit barmy for the way they are so willing to down tools and rise up en masse. But secretly, we also quite admire it. There's a lot to be said for kicking out and not taking your medicine like good boys and girls...Dan Waddellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04320741202757960766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-59315052525240459972010-10-19T16:41:12.949-04:002010-10-19T16:41:12.949-04:00We are the new Victorians. We are financially com...We are the new Victorians. We are financially comfortable and arrogantly self-satisfied. We believe we have a right to more because we, by nature not nurture, deserve it. If someone is poor, it is because they deserve to be. We worked hard for what we have or we have had others work hard so we can benefit. <br /><br />If the right wins control of Congress, any hope of legislation or programs to help the unemployed or those who have lost their homes will be cut back until they are finally cut out. The US is in danger of becoming a plutocracy; the rich will get richer and the poor and middle class will not be able to afford higher education that would allow them to move up the economic ladder. Our adult children today will not be able to do for their children what we were able to do for them. The number of marriages has declined because those of marriageable age don't feel economically secure enough to make a life-long commitment. The British have raised the cost of university education, giving education and the promise of a better future back to those whose futures are already safe.<br /><br />People in the United States have their opinions formed and their minds controlled by the millionaires who rule the air waves and Fox news. None can see beyond the hysterical rhetoric of the men who the are pushing the deluded off the cliff.<br /><br />The French are smart to march. The comfortable middle-class in America believes that only the poor are going to suffer from the cuts that the right will impose. FDR? Most of my fellow Americans have no idea what he did to make life bearable for so many. There is something to be said for being governed by old money; they were taught about their obligations to society. <br /><br />The society of the selfish will be happy to gather in front of the TV cameras and wave their placards demanding that the government keep its hands off their Medicare.<br /><br />BethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-72876521122493294572010-10-19T13:45:03.624-04:002010-10-19T13:45:03.624-04:00Kdurkin thanks for commenting. Even if the French ...Kdurkin thanks for commenting. Even if the French retirement bill goes thru tomorrow - which it most likely will - this has pulled Sarkozy up on his toes. You're right this is not an academic issue but the real deal.<br /><br />Susie...next time let's try for coffee, ok?<br /><br />CaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-19746710729309245022010-10-19T10:46:01.276-04:002010-10-19T10:46:01.276-04:00Hi Cara,
It was so nice to see you!!!!
SusieHi Cara,<br /><br />It was so nice to see you!!!!<br /><br />SusieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-2566306023307320992010-10-19T01:39:17.267-04:002010-10-19T01:39:17.267-04:00I think the protests in France are great; it's...I think the protests in France are great; it's the only way that the government will feel the pressure and opposition to cutting back on the rights which people won, with union assistance. (I do, of course, hope people are not injured here or anywhere.)<br /><br />People are facing austerity measures all over Europe and are objecting. They have a right to; it's their lives and livelihoods at stake here.<br /><br />I wish people in the U.S. would object and protest more about the horrendous unemployment and underemployment, the wage and hour cuts, the growing number of foreclosures and homelessness, 51 million now without health care, increasing crisis in public education, with children paying the price.<br /><br />This is about millions of people's lives and those of their families. It's not an academic issue. It's real life.<br /><br />The U.S. needs an FDR-type Works Progress Administration jobs' program. It'll take a lot to pressure the government to get that as it did in the 1930s.<br /><br />I really am opposed to the suffering millions are going through in my own country and elsewhere. It just sickens me to see this as banks and corporations got humongous bailouts and Wall Street is making huge profits and bonuses once again, while so many are going through terrible times and poverty rates are going up.kdurkin3@verizon.netnoreply@blogger.com